Ice dispenser having a safety apparatus

ABSTRACT

An ice dispenser having a safety apparatus is disclosed. The ice dispenser includes a bin for storing ice to be dispensed; a chute in communication with the bin; a device for at least one of crushing the ice and moving the ice from the bin to the chute; a controller for activating the device in response to a dispensing signal; and a safety apparatus configured to determine a presence of an object in the chute and to provide an indication responsive to the determined presence to the controller. The controller deactivates the device after receiving the indication. A refrigerator incorporating such an ice dispenser is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an ice dispenser. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to an ice dispenser having asafety apparatus.

Ice dispensers are known in the art. They can be used as stand-aloneunits or as part of home appliances such as refrigerators. Refrigeratorsoften include a freezer compartment, and a fresh food compartment. Thefreezer compartment is used to store food and other items attemperatures below zero degrees Celsius while the fresh food compartmentis used to store foods and other items at temperatures above zerodegrees Celsius. Such refrigerators may also include a beverage servicecenter disposed or installed in one of the compartment doors. Thebeverage service center often includes an ice dispenser, a cold-waterdispenser, a hot-water dispenser, or a combination thereof.

The structure and operating principle of ice dispensers are well knownin the art. An ice dispenser typically includes an ice storagereceptacle or bin, a dispensing chute having an input end in flowcommunication with the ice storage bin and an opposite output or exitend, and a mechanically or electrically activated door, such as asolenoid-operated door, for regulating the flow of ice from thedispensing chute. When activated, the door permits the ice to move orflow under the force of gravity from the dispensing chute into a cup orthe like positioned under the exit end of the dispensing chute. In oneknown approach, a signal for activating the solenoid is generated by themovement of a lever arm attached to a dispensing switch. Morespecifically, the signal is generated by the dispensing switch which isactivated by the movement of the lever arm when a cup is placed and heldagainst the lever arm. In another known approach, a user positions thecup beneath the exit end of the dispensing chute with one hand whiledepressing a dispensing switch with the other to generate the signal.

An auger is often disposed or arranged in the ice storage bin. The augercan be used for mixing the ice cubes periodically to prevent individualice cubes from freezing together due to defrost cycles. The auger ismainly used to move the ice cubes from the ice storage bin into thedispensing chute for dispensing. In addition, the ice dispenser may alsoinclude an ice crusher that crushes the ice cubes as they are beingdispensed. The ice crusher uses a series of blades to chop or crush theice cubes as the ice cubes are passing through the ice crusher. Theauger and the ice crusher are known in the art. Therefore, they will notbe discussed in detail here.

When an ice dispenser is installed in a refrigerator, it is desirable tominimize the volume occupied by the ice dispenser in order to maximizethe usable storage volume of the refrigerator. One way to minimize thevolume occupied by the ice dispenser is to shorten the length of thedispensing chute. However, a shortened dispensing chute may facilitateaccess to the auger and/or the blades of the ice crusher through thedispensing chute. In other words, a shortened dispensing chute mayresult in exposure of foreign objects inserted in the chute and reachingthe auger and/or the blades of the ice crusher. If the foreign object isa user's hand, injury to the fingers is possible. Other types of foreignobjects could cause damages to the auger and/or the blades of the icecrusher.

Hence, there is a need in the industry for a safety apparatus whichstops or inactivates at least the operation of the auger and/or the icecrusher when it detects a foreign object such as a hand of a user in thedispensing chute.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As described herein, the preferred embodiments of the present inventionovercome one or more of the above or other disadvantages known in theart.

One aspect of the present invention relates to an ice dispenser. The icedispenser includes a bin for storing ice to be dispensed; a chute incommunication with the bin; a device for at least one of crushing theice and moving the ice from the bin to the chute; a controller foractivating the device in response to a dispensing signal; and a safetyapparatus configured to detect the presence of a foreign object in thechute and deactivate the device in response to such detection.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigerator. Therefrigerator includes a compartment; a door for closing the compartment;and an ice dispenser disposed in the door. The ice dispenser includes abin for storing ice to be dispensed; a chute in flow communication withthe bin, the chute having an upper end terminating at the bin and alower end accessible from a front side of the door; a device for atleast one of crushing the ice and moving the ice from the bin to thechute; a dispensing switch for generating a dispensing signal; acontroller for activating the device in response to the dispensingsignal; and a safety apparatus configured to detect the presence of aforeign object in the chute, and to provide an indication responsive tothe detected presence to the controller. The controller deactivates thedevice once receiving the indication.

These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood,however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes ofillustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, forwhich reference should be made to the appended claims. Moreover, thedrawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwiseindicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate thestructures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary refrigeratorhaving an ice dispenser;

FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of the exemplary refrigerator of FIG.1; FIG. 2B is a partial cross-sectional top view, schematically showingthe ice storage bin, the auger and the ice crusher of the refrigeratorof FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial, cross-section view of the ice dispenser ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a safety device in accordance with a first embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a safety device in accordance with a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a safety device in accordance with a third embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a safety device in accordance with a fourthembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a safety device in accordance with a fifth embodimentof the invention.

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of thepreferred embodiments of the present invention have been simplified toillustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of thepresent invention, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity manyother elements found in conventional systems of the type describedherein. Those of ordinary skill of the art may recognize that otherelements and/or steps are desirable and/or required in implementing thepresent invention. However, because such elements and steps are wellknown in the art, and because they do not facilitate a betterunderstanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elementsand steps is not provided herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary side-by-side refrigerator 100. Therefrigerator 100 includes a fresh food compartment, which is covered bya door 105, and a freezer compartment, which is covered by a door 106.Within the door 106 is an ice dispenser 200 that may dispense stored icecubes or crushed ice in response to a dispensing signal. The door 106may include an area 110 above the ice dispenser 200 where a display,such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or Light Emitting Diode (LED)information center or, even, a television screen can be placed.

FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of the refrigerator 100 with the door106 being in an open position to expose the freezer compartment 203 andan icemaker 201 mounted on the door 106. The icemaker 201 includes anice forming or making apparatus 202. An ice storage bin 204 is disposedon the door 106, below and in flow communication with the ice makingapparatus 202. A dispensing chute 206 extends from the ice storage bin204 to an outlet 207 (see FIG. 3; the outlet 207 is known as a funnel inthe art) exposed from the front side of the door 106 under which a cupor other receptacle may be placed.

Although the invention herein is described with regard to a side-by-siderefrigerator, the ice dispenser 200 is not limited to use in anyparticular type of refrigerator or one particular compartment, butrather can be used in various types of refrigerators in which the freshfood and freezer compartments are disposed in a variety of positionsrelative to one another. It is further understood that the refrigeratorin which the ice dispenser 200 is disposed is not required to have oneor only one of each of the fresh food and freezer compartments, butrather can include none, or one or more of each of the fresh food andfreezer compartments. By way of non-limiting examples, the ice dispenser200 can be disposed in a refrigerator that includes one or more freshfood compartments and no freezer compartment, or that includes one ormore freezer compartments and no fresh food compartment. Still further,it is understood that the ice dispenser 200 is not limited to use in arefrigerator, but rather can be disposed in various environments whereone or more advantages of the ice dispenser 200 are provided, or used asa stand-alone unit.

A door 260 is provided proximate the exit end of the dispensing chute206 for closing a flow from, or access to, the dispensing chute 206. Thedoor 260 may either be spring loaded or electrically activated when auser requests ice. In this way, the door 260 is moved to an openposition to permit ice or ice cubes to flow down from the dispensingchute 206.

As shown in FIG. 2B, an auger 210 and an ice crusher 211 are arranged ordisposed in the ice storage bin 204. Each of the auger 210 and the icecrusher 211 is attached to a shaft 212 of a drive such as an electricmotor 213. As is known in the art, the auger 210 and the ice crusher 211can be driven by different electric motors 213. Also as is known in theart, the ice crusher 211 can be positioned downstream of the auger 210,or vice versa. Moreover, just one of the auger 210 and the ice crusher211 can be employed. The auger 210, the ice crusher 211 and theirinterrelationship (if both are employed) are well known in the art, andtherefore will not be discussed in detail here. Further, it is to beunderstood that while the embodiments illustrated herein employ anarrangement in which the ice storage bin 204, the auger 210 and the icecrusher 211 are on the door 106, the safety apparatus could beembodiment in any arrangement in which the ice crusher 211 or the auger210 is positioned proximate the inlet end of the dispensing chute 206.For example, the ice storage bin 204, the auger 210 and the ice crusher211 could be mounted in the interior of the freezer compartment andproximate the inlet end of the dispensing chute 206 when the door 106 isclosed.

To further limit access to the ice storage bin 204, the dispensing chute206 may be curved between the ice storage bin 204 and the outlet 207 ofthe ice dispenser 200.

FIG. 4 illustrates a safety apparatus or device 400 in accordance with afirst embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the dispensingchute 206 has a recess 401. The safety device 400 includes an actuatorarm 410 that extends from the recess 401 into the dispensing chute 206.

More specifically, the actuator arm 410 is pivotably attached at a pivotpoint 420 to a wall defining the recess 401, and is thus able to rotateabout the pivot point 420. The actuator arm 410 has a first end 411disposed in the dispensing chute 206. The first end 411 has sufficientlength in the chute 206 so that a hand in the chute 206 has to touch orengage the first end 411 before it can reach the auger or the icecrusher. The actuator arm 410 also has a second end 412 which isdisposed in the recess 401 and in contact with an elastic element suchas, for example, a spring 430. The spring 430 maintains the second end412 (as well as the actuator arm 410) in a nominal position where thesecond end 412 does not engage a switch 440. The pivot point 420 isbetween the first and second ends 411, 412.

When the first end 411 of the actuator arm 410 is moved in an upwarddirection by a hand or other foreign object entering the dispensingchute 206, the spring 430 is stretched and the second end 412 of theactuator arm 410 moves away from the nominal position and engages andcloses the switch 440. When closed, the switch 440 prevents, shuts offor deactivates the operation of the ice dispenser 200 (in thisapplication, the expression “the operation of the ice dispenser” is usedto refer to the operation of at least the auger when only the auger isused, the ice crusher when only the ice crusher is used, or at least oneof the auger and the ice crusher when both are used). The switch 440 maybe a normally open switch wherein contact by the second end 412 causesthe switch 440 to close. In this closed position, a signal or indicationmay be sent to a controller such as a dispenser control board 450 whichalso receives a signal from the dispensing switch 442. Receipt of thesignal from the switch 440 inhibits or overrides the dispensing signaleven though the dispensing switch 442 is engaged or activated.Alternatively, the switch 440 and the dispenser switch 442 may beconnected such that the opening or closing of the switch 440 prevents orstops the operation of the ice dispenser 200 by inhibiting thegeneration of the dispensing signal. For example, the switch 440 may bea normally closed switch, which under normal conditions would allow icedispensing when the dispensing switch 442 is engaged. However, when theactuator arm 410 is forced upward by a hand moving toward the icestorage bin 204 so that the second end 412 engages the switch 440, theswitch 440 is opened and the operation of the ice dispenser 200 isprevented or stopped even if the dispensing switch 442 is engaged. Ineither situation, the engagement of the switch 440 by the second end 412of the actuator arm 410 overrides the position of the dispensing switch442 and prevents or stops the operation of the ice dispenser 200. FIG. 4shows that the switch 440 is connected to the dispenser control board450. Of course, the switch 440 can be configured so that actuation ofthe switch 440 simply mechanically breaks the power circuit to the auger210 or the ice crusher 211 directly or by energizing a relay which opensto break the power circuit.

FIG. 5 illustrates a safety apparatus or device 500 in accordance with asecond embodiment of the invention. The safety device 500 includes atemperature sensor such as an infrared temperature sensor 510 placed orpositioned within the dispensing chute 206. In this embodiment, a signalmay be provided to the dispenser control switchboard 450 along with astatus signal provided by the dispensing switch 442. In this embodimentof the invention, the signal (an inhibiting signal) generated by theinfrared temperature sensor 510 inhibits or overrides a dispensingsignal when an object having a temperature warmer than or exceeding athreshold temperature is detected in the dispensing chute 206 by theinfrared temperature sensor 510. As would be recognized and not shown,power signals may be provided to the infrared temperature sensor 510from the dispenser control board 450.

FIG. 6 illustrates a safety apparatus device 600 in accordance with athird embodiment of the invention. The safety device 600 includes spacedlight sources 612, 614, such as light bulbs or LEDs, which arepositioned in the dispensing chute 206. Corresponding spaced lightdetectors 622, 624 in the dispensing chute 206 receive light emitted bythe light sources 612, 614. FIG. 6 shows the light sources 612, 614 onone side of the dispensing chute 206 and the light detectors 622, 624 onthe other side of the dispensing chute 206. The light sources 612, 614can be on different sides of the dispensing chute 206.

When the light beam from the light source 612, 614 is interrupted by apassing object, the respective light detector 622, 624 generates aninterruption signal which is sent to a processor 630. The processor 630analyzes the interruption signals received from the light detectors 622and 624 to determine the cause of an interruption in the light beamsbetween the light sources 612, 614 and the light detectors 622, 624. Forexample, a velocity of a passing object in the dispensing chute 206 maybe determined by measuring a time difference between an interruption ofa light beam from the light sources 612 and 614. A velocity which doesnot substantially match the velocity of falling ice or ice cubesindicates the presence of an object other than ice in the dispensingchute 206. In another example, the duration of an interruption of thelight beams may be determined. In this case, when the duration of theinterruption is measured over a short period that is substantiallyconsistent with ice or ice cubes passing through ice chute 206, then theoperation of ice dispensing continues. However, when a longerinterruption is determined, then a presence of something other than iceor ice cubes is deemed to be within the dispensing chute 206 and asignal is provided to the dispenser control board 450 to inhibit oroverride the dispensing signal generated by the dispensing switch 442.Although, two examples of criterion for determining the presence of aforeign object in the dispensing chute 206 are disclosed, it would bewithin the knowledge of those skilled in the art to alter the criteriondescribed and such alterations are considered to be within the scope ofthe invention recited herein. For example, when the order of light beaminterruptions starts with the lower light source 614 being interruptedbefore the upper light source 612 is interrupted, the processor 630concludes that a foreign object other than falling ice or ice cubes ispresent in the dispensing chute 206.

FIG. 7 illustrates a safety apparatus or device in accordance with afourth embodiment of the invention. The safety device is in the form ofa capacitive proximity sensor 700 which includes an capacitive proximitysensing element 710 located near or in the dispensing chute 206, and aprocessor 730 which is operatively connected to the capacitive proximitysensing element 710 and the dispenser control board 450. The capacitiveproximity sensor 700 determines the presence of a hand, arm or otherforeign body in the dispensing chute 206 and provides a signal to thedispenser control board 450 when the detected capacitance exceeds acapacitance threshold (each ice cube weights less than ½ ounce; aresult, the capacitance of the ice cube is much lower than that of ahuman hand). The signal inhibits or overrides the dispensing signal, ifany. The capacitive proximity sensor is known in the art, and thereforewill not be discussed further here.

FIG. 8 illustrates a safety apparatus or device in accordance with afifth embodiment of the invention. The safety device is in the form of acapacitance-sensing electrode sensor or capacitance touch switch 800.The capacitance-sensing electrode sensor 800 includes an electriccontact or electrode 810 on or extending into the dispensing chute 206.The electric contact 810 is operatively connected to a capacitancesensing circuit 815 which is in turn operatively connected to aprocessor 830. The capacitance sensing circuit 815 and/or the processor830 determine the presence of a hand, arm or other undesired object inthe dispensing chute 206 when the object touches the electric contact810 and the detected capacitance value exceeds a threshold value (eachice cube weights less than ½ ounce; a result, the capacitance of the icecube is much lower than that of a human hand). The processor 830 thensends a signal to the dispenser control board 450 to inhibit or overridethe dispensing signal, if any, when an undesired foreign object isdetermined to be present in the dispensing chute 206. Thecapacitance-sensing electrode sensor is known in the art, and thereforewill not be discussed further here.

In all of the embodiments discussed herein, the processor 630, 730, 830may be made part of the dispenser control board 450 and interface withits existing circuitry.

Although not shown in detail, the dispenser control board 450 mayinclude a determination circuit which monitors the inhibiting signalgenerated from each of the embodiments of the invention shown herein andprevents the activation of the ice dispensing mechanism even when thedispensing switch is engaged. In one aspect, the dispensing controlboard may employ an “AND” circuit that generates a dispenser activationsignal when the dispensing switch and an inverted inhibit signal arepresent. Those skilled in the art would recognize other means to linkthe dispensing switch and the safety device and have been contemplatedand are considered to be within the scope of the invention claimedherein. In another aspect, the dispenser control board may contain anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other similar devicesthat receive signals from the dispensing switch and the safety deviceand generates or inhibits the generation of a dispensing signal based onthe provided inputs.

While there has been shown, described, and pointed out fundamental novelfeatures of the present invention as applied to preferred embodimentsthereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutionsand changes in the apparatus described, in the form and details of thedevices disclosed, and in their operation, may be made by those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.It is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements thatperform substantially the same function in substantially the same way toachieve the same results are within the scope of the invention.Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another arealso fully intended and contemplated.

1. An ice dispenser comprising: a bin for storing ice to be dispensed; achute in communication with the bin; a device for at least one ofcrushing the ice and moving the ice from the bin to the chute; acontroller for activating the device in response to a dispensing signal;and a safety apparatus configured to detect a presence of a foreignobject in the chute and deactivate the device in response to thedetected presence.
 2. The ice dispenser of claim 1, wherein the safetyapparatus comprises a switch comprising an actuator arm having a firstend extending into the chute and configured to detect the presence ofthe foreign object when the foreign object movingly engages the firstend.
 3. The ice dispenser of claim 2, wherein the switch is operativewhen actuated to deactivate the device.
 4. An ice dispenser comprising:a bin for storing ice to be dispensed; a chute in communication with thebin; a device for at least one of crushing the ice and moving the icefrom the bin to the chute; a controller for activating the device inresponse to a dispensing signal; and a safety apparatus configured todetect a presence of a foreign object in the chute and to provide anindication responsive to the detected presence to the controller,wherein the controller deactivates the device after receiving theindication.
 5. The ice dispenser of claim 4, wherein the devicecomprises an ice crusher.
 6. The ice dispenser of claim 4, wherein thedevice comprises an auger disposed in the bin.
 7. The ice dispenser ofclaim 4, further comprising a dispensing switch for generating thedispensing signal, the controller activating the device after receivingthe dispensing signal in the absence of the indication, the controllerdeactivating the device once receiving the indication.
 8. The icedispenser of claim 4, wherein the safety apparatus comprises atemperature sensor configured to detect a temperature in the chute, theobject causing a temperature change in the chute when in the chute, thetemperature sensor determining the presence of the object and providingthe indication when the detected temperature exceeds a threshold.
 9. Theice dispenser of claim 8, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed inthe chute.
 10. The ice dispenser of claim 9, wherein the temperaturesensor comprises an infrared temperature sensor.
 11. The ice dispenserof claim 4, wherein the safety apparatus comprises a capacitiveproximity sensor configured to detect a capacitance in the chute, theobject causing a capacitance change in the chute when in the chute, thecapacitive proximity sensor determining the presence of the object inthe chute and providing the indication when the detected capacitanceexceeds a threshold.
 12. The ice dispenser of claim 4, wherein thesafety apparatus comprises a capacitance-sensing electrode sensorconfigured to detect a capacitance in the chute, the object causing acapacitance change in the chute when in the chute, thecapacitance-sensing electrode sensor determining the presence of theobject in the chute when the object contacts the capacitance-sensingelectrode sensor, and providing the indication when the detectedcapacitance exceeds a threshold.
 13. The ice dispenser of claim 12,wherein the capacitive proximity sensor comprises an electric contact inthe chute and a capacitance sensing circuit operatively connected to theelectric contact.
 14. The ice dispenser of claim 4, wherein the safetyapparatus comprises: an actuator arm having a first end extending intothe chute and a second end; a switch disposed adjacent to the second endand configured to generate the indication when engaged by the secondend; an elastic element, wherein the actuator arm is rotatable about apivot point between the first end and the second end so that the secondend is movable between a first position where the second end does notengage the switch and a second position where the second end engages theswitch, and wherein the elastic element urges the second end in thefirst position.
 15. The ice dispenser of claim 14, wherein the safetyapparatus determines the presence of the object when the object movesthe first end so that the second end is moved from the first position tothe second position.
 16. The ice dispenser of claim 4, wherein the chutecomprising two opposite sides, the safety apparatus comprising: a firstlight source and a first light detector in the chute, one of the firstlight source and the first light detector being disposed on one of thesides, the other of the first light source and the first light detectorbeing disposed on the other of the sides; a second light source and asecond light detector, one of the second light source and the secondlight detector being disposed on one of the sides, the other of thesecond light source and the second light detector being disposed on theother of the sides; each of the first and second light detectors beingconfigured to: monitor a light generated by a respective light source,and generate an interruption signal once the light is interrupted, and aprocessor configured to process the generated interruption signals fromthe first light detector and the second light detector and to providethe indication when the interruption signals satisfy at least one knowncriterion.
 17. The ice dispenser of claim 16, wherein the at least oneknown criterion comprises a time duration between the generatedinterruption signals.
 18. The ice dispenser of claim 16, wherein the atleast one known criterion comprises an order in which the generatedinterruption signals are generated.
 19. The ice dispenser of claim 16,wherein the processor is made an integral part of the controller.
 20. Arefrigerator comprising: a compartment; a door for closing thecompartment; and an ice dispenser disposed in the door, the icedispenser comprising: a bin for storing ice to be dispensed; a chute inflow communication with the bin, the chute having an upper endterminating at the bin and a lower end accessible from a front side ofthe door; a device for at least one of crushing the ice and moving theice from the bin to the chute; a dispensing switch for generating adispensing signal; a controller for activating the device in response tothe dispensing signal; and a safety apparatus configured to detect apresence of a foreign object in the chute, and to provide an indicationresponsive to the detected presence to the controller, wherein thecontroller deactivates the device once receiving the indication.
 21. Therefrigerator of claim 20, wherein the device comprises at least one ofan ice crusher and an auger.